Subanchor: PMI figure show economic activity picks up

China's vast manufacturing sector has continued to expand in December, consolidating the recovery trend in the economy. This is according to the latest official manufacturing purchasing managers' index.

For more we're joined in the studio by our reporter Guan Xin. Hi Guan Xin, tell us more about the country's manfacturing activities.

The latest PMI figure supports a growing consensus that economic activity in China has picked up during the last quarter of 2012, a welcome sign for the country entering 2013.

China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index held steady in December at 50.6, matching November's seven-month high. The figure was in line with a similar survey by HSBC, which targets smaller, private firms. Both figures showed manufacturing activity strengthened in the fourth quarter, after a contractive third quarter. Analysts say although the figures point to a trend of recovery, investors still need to watch out for uncertainties.